Butterfly Timo Boll ALC Review

Timo Boll ALC is one of the most classic

TIMO BOLL ALC is a classic blade in the Butterfly line-up. This is a typical carbon blade with a moderate touch and a dynamic precise hitting feel. Another classic ALC blade is Viscaria.

The blade was made for Timo Boll, who was famous for his powerful topspin strokes. He used this blade and the Tenergy rubber to defend all three of his titles at the 2008 European Championships.

It is a high-quality blade and one of the best table tennis equipment from the Butterfly brand. It stands out from the others and has an incredible looping ability and fast speed.

The blade is one of the best-selling blades, especially among table tennis players, and for a good reason. This review will show you why we think the Timo Boll ALC is the right blade for you.

Due to the success of boll alc in the market, the butterfly company specially launched the Boll alc Special Blade to celebrate its 70th anniversary.

Specification of Boll ALC

	Butterfly Timo Boll ALC
Code	FL: 35861
Class	OFF
Weight	90 g
Thickness	5.8 mm
Style	ATTACK
Plies	5W+2ALC
Speed	9.0
Control	8.8
Spin	7.0
Reaction	11.8
Stiffness	6.0
Hardness	6.2
Consistency	8.0
Vibration	10.3
Head Dimensions	157×150 mm
FL Handle Dimensions	100×24 mm
Price	185 USD
Manufacturer	Butterfly
Made in	Japan
Representative Player	Timo Boll

Reviews of Timo Boll ALC

Appearance & Handle

Boll ALC is very beautiful, the workmanship is very fine, the surface is very smooth, and the elasticity is very good.

This blade comes with a square straight handle which some athletes prefer compared to the smaller flared handles in older Butterfly models. Its handle is easy to grip and will help improve performance.

Features & Playing Style

Timo Boll ALC offers more speed than other previous models of the Butterfly brand. It also offers players better control and the ability to make heavy spins. There are many reasons why most table tennis players use this blade, and we will be looking at some of its amazing features.

This is the blade for loopers as it creates a high arc. Boll ALC blade produces powerful spins when playing and will add an extra dimension of spin to the gameplay. It is also perfect for making counter shots or defense strokes.

Composition & Stiffness

The Butterfly Timo Boll ALC blade comes in a lightweight Arylate Carbon and wood blend. The wooden layers are made of the highest quality. The blade comes with 7 plies, 2 layers of Arylate carbon, 2 outer layers of Koto, 2 inner layers of Limba, and a central layer of Kiri.

The carbon layer can be found close to the blade surface and gives it a large sweet spot.  The koto layer gives the blade a crisp feeling when you loop. Also, the blade thickness is about 5.7mm, and its weight is up to 90g. This gives players enough speed when playing. The blade can easily be attached with two heavy Tenergy rubbers like the athlete Timo Boll uses it.

The blade is moderately flexible and can play offense, but it is a better defense carbon blade. The inner wooden layers of the Timo Boll ALC are soft, and the carbon layers are quite flexible. The flexibility makes it easy to set up and also makes it convenient for looping. The dwell time of this blade can be put at medium to high, which is enough for you to make a good shot.

Speed & Control

• Speed

The Timo Boll ALC is one of the best blades to get in the ALC series when looking for speed. It has a bouncy feel and is quicker than most carbon blades.

The speed combined with its performance makes it stand out from other Butterfly blades. It is faster than the Joola Fever and Viscaria blades.

The swift nature of the bat makes it perfect for mid-distance play.

• Control

It also gives players control, even though it can be a bit bouncy. The Timo Boll ALC blade can be difficult making short-distance shots, except you are a good player.

It is one of the best for play strategies like touch shots, pushes, and blocks. The handling can be a bit tricky for an incoming spin. The blade is built to handle looping, and it will require a lot of touch and skill to use it. The ALC blade is not designed for beginners and will be quite difficult for them to handle.

Shots

Like we mentioned earlier, you can loop with this blade. The Timo Boll ALC paddle is best for mid-distance shots. It will be easier doing a spin with it. For a serve, this bat can produce lots of spin during serves. However, It will be challenging to keep it short. It will require a more advanced skill set to control the ball for a return stroke. You can also make a good forehand drive with this blade.

It may not be a strong point for the Timo Boll ALC blade when it comes to making shots like smashes or even flat hits. It will take a certain level of accuracy to make such strokes.

Boll alc’s forehand impact is very cool, and it’s very fast and powerful on a short court. By the way, the counterattack is very well when using the bat!

The disadvantage is that the paddle is a little bouncy, and if the control is not well with high power, it will be easy to hit outside.

Boll alc is easy to use, with high fault tolerance, few mistakes, and a clear sense of throughput.

Driving with medium strength is very stable and has a high rate on the table.

With great strength, there are common shortcomings that are difficult to overcome with the carbon: the speed is too fast, the hand feels bad, and the strength is obviously insufficient in the backcourt.

Disadvantages

Timo Boll ALC is difficult to match the rubber which must be a strong rotating and soft elastic. Butterfly’s Tenergy is the best configuration

Low forgiveness and the sweet spot become smaller due to the increase in carbon density. If the receiving is not in the sweet spot, there will be mistakes. Of course, this is relative to the butterfly Viscaria.

Not enough power in the backcourt.

Summary

It is a fast base technique with a high speed and fast attack.

The touch and the feeling are soft, the spin is strong, and the control is very good with a little power.

I feel that the blade is more resilient, rubbing and driving, the landing point is clear, and I feel more confident in my heart.

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One of the reasons why Butterfly remains the best-selling blade in the market today is because they have several options for different player levels. However, before you decide if the Timo Boll ALC blade is the right choice, you need to check other alternatives outlined below.

Timo Boll ALC VS Timo Boll Spirit

What is the difference between Timo Boll alc and Timo Boll Spirit？

Butterfly Timo Boll ALC VS Timo Boll Spirit

Timo Boll ALC VS Timo Boll ZLC

What is the difference between Timo Boll ALC and Timo Boll ZLC？

Butterfly Timo Boll ALC VS Timo Boll ZLC

Timo Boll Alc VS Viscaria

Butterfly Timo Boll Alc vs Viscaria

Timo Boll ALC VS Zhang jike ALC

Boll ALC has a harder surface material, crisp and elastic, and delivers faster shots under low power. Its control ability is not as good as Zhang jike ALC. Boll ALC is hard outside and soft inside racket. The forehand is suitable for Japanese sponges or German sponges Rubber. Not suitable for China’s DHS Hurricane series.

Zhang jike ALC is relatively soft and easily penetrated; it provides a long time grasping the ball and has better control. Zhang jike ALC is easier to suit novice players. It has better fault tolerance and is more suitable for DHS Hurricane 3 rubber. it feels comfortable to hold. It is recommended for newbies because of its easy control.